Mathew Johnson

Mike, Great idea... DC is less than an 8 hour drive from NY.

CUJO.... I love the way you think.... reminds me of someone I know well.

Ken, I am about 2 hours north of Scranton, ! north of Binghamton, I would be interested in attending.

I get the message, LOL thanks.

Carlos.... It is all about the Benjamin $$$ and the need to increase membership numbers. To really increase the numbers, the organization will need to promote the PWNA to the public and the PWNA agenda to the current members and potential members. Promote to Current members to keep them; to potential members to get them and to the public to educate them. I think this policy creates an impression to the bystander that the PWNA is looking to get your cash as soon as they can! The caveat to this is that - to promote the PWNA it takes cash. My wife has been reading these threads.. I laughed when she suggested that we have a huge PWNA Bake sale. (she was just kidding of course).

I use both - Box 295 - 26 Maple Street. I do think people like to see a physical address.

Everette, Please Clarify Are all of the round tables sponsored or endorsed exclusively by the PWNA

Mike, you are correct... I apologize for heading in a different direction. I read Johns post and assumed that the thread was about contrasting round tables verses PWNA chapters.

Everette, Thanks for the excellent post and for answering some of my questions. Matt

John, thanks for the awsum reply and answering many of my questions.

John, I have a couple of questions looking at the State PWNA Chapter data you posted. I figured that you are on the BOD, you would be a good one to ask. Here are the goals and other data that was posted in your post: 1) To unite contract cleaners/power washers across the country. 2) To bridge a gap between the national organization to contractors and vendors at all levels. 3) To increase the level of knowledge and professionalism in the industry, securing our image as the leader in the industry. 4) To educate through networking. There will be charges for the meetings to cover meals, speakers, costs, and a $25 meeting fee to go to PWNA. These charges need to be communicated well in advance – in any promotional materials, registration forms. Any fees will be collected by the local Chapters at the meetings. Records of the fees and expenses for each chapter meeting will be turned in to Headquarters. Receipts will be given to attendees, if requested. Meetings are open to members and non-members (can attend ONE meeting without having to join PWNA). PWNA members who pay national dues are entitled to pay a lower fee to attend Chapter meetings. Non-members must join PWNA after one meeting to attend additional meetings. First question: Are the chaper meetings similar to the round tables that I have heard so much about: What is the difference? Next Question- How many state chapters are there? Next Question- Have you or anyone downstate looked at forming a NYS chapter: Next Question- I see that there are fee's associated with holding the chapter meetings (25.00 meeting charge) payable to the PWNA. What is this for? I see that as a member of the PWNA, I am entitled to pay a reduced rate for attending the State PWNA chapter meeting. How much is this per meeting and why is there a fee? I don't understand why I would pay additional dues while donating time to promote the National Organization? Next Question - Wouldn't it make sense for the PWNA to offer financial incentives for local chapters to get started? For example - If you or I started a NYS chapter and recruited 20 new members for the PWNA it would generate a lot of revenue (with the current membership around 400 members, it would be about a 5 percent increase in the membership). I don't understand this process. If a local chapter raises money to promote the PWNA, why does it all have to be turned into the HQ. Should part of it not be used to promote the profession at our state level? I would love to see a NYS chapter started but my concern is this... I still havent been able to clearly distinguish what is on the agenda for the PWNA for 2005. I will help them meet thier agenda but I have questions like; What is the one / three / five year plan 1) for membership growth, 2) for fiscal growth, 3) for promoting the organization 4) for the PWNA to meet thier mission statement and organizational objectives. I would be willing to donate time to work on a local chapter but here is the quandry; I will not donate time and pay additional dues or fees to promote the organization. I don't understand this process, Please explain.

Good Luck with your surgery... Thanks a million for all the help and excellent advise you have posted on this BBS and given me as well. You played a role in the success and growth of my business... as you have done for many others. Your unselfishness and passion for the profession is in a class by itself.

Dishwasher, cook, restaurant manager, Paramedic, Nurse, Nursing Instructor... THe coolest of all... running my own property cleaning business.

I shoot for 80-100 per hour for houses and 50-70 per hour on decks. Sometimes I bid a little too low for the time, and on other jobs I sometimes make a little more per hr than expected. It all averages out.

I plug the terminal into my customers phone line. Swipe thier card, punch in the amount and have an approval code and my money before I pull out of the driveway

I have a northern tool Hotbox (Diesel, Kerosene or Fuel oul) I burn Kerosene because it butns cleaner, cost under a grand and works excellent. I invested in a larger generator than I needed (8500 Watts) so I can run my house in the winter if the Power goes out.

Desi, You can set up for credit cards very reasonable. I bought my terminal on ebay for $59.00. Retriever services program the terminal over the phone, waived my setup fee. It cost me 10.00 per month, .25 per transaction, 2.25% service fee. My volune doubled the first month I started adverstising Credit Cards

Cujo, I think I would like you to be my VP of Human Resources when I become a fortune 500 company. I like the way you think. Matt

Beth, That is great advise... I spoke with our Pulmonologist at my hospital where I work this past summer. The deck stripper and oxalic acid are very caustic to lung tissue... you wont see damage in the short run, maybe some mild discomfort, but the long term exposure effects may be catadtrophic to your health and result in early retirement (death). The respirator cartridge PPE at the hardware store will work provided the cartridges are rated for and will filter the chemicals used. Being fit tested for the respirator is always a plus. I see people on ventiators in the ICU from toxic exposure both short term and long term. It is not a Kodak moment you or your family would like to see. Like other mistakes I made entering the business, I too started useing the chems without PPE respirator. Also: Blind pressure washing technicians really suck at power washing and deck restoration... Use Eye Protection - Sodium Hydroxide and other chems we use will mess up your vision that even glasses cant fix.

From an old Retired Paramedic... If you are looking for a used ambulance avoid ones tthat have come from commercial ambulance services. They run them until they are dead then put enough repairs into them to get them sold. On the other hand... Ambulances that come from rural volunteer services are usually a safe bet. Our local FD and many like it run the ambulances for 5-8 years on 200-300 calls a year. They buy new ambulances often because they have the taxpayer $$ and community support.

Rod, That was an awsum post with some sound advice. I haven't yet figured out a good response when someone tries to haggle on the price. I have now! Thanks

300 Water hose 200 Sure Flow / Xjet line 150 Pressure hose on each hose reel (2) with an extra 150 on trailer and a hole lot more nozzles, handles and wands than I will ever need.

Well said... Your delivery of the product you offer sets the stage for the price you can ask... Car Dealers don't sell "used cars" anymore, they sell "pre-owned certified cars" I often reference that I don't have competition in my area... This can work for and against me. I charge a good price and the results have to be awsom. Well really I have a guy named Ralph in my area doing pressure washing but he isnt my competition. He owns a nice pickup. This summer I ran across Ralph at the local convience store getting fuel, on the back of his pickup he had a 20 foot extension ladder, a small pressure washer, 100 foot of garden hose and 50 Pressure hose. He saw my enclosed trailer and asked if I was busy cleaning, I told him no not really. He couldn't believe how busy he was. He did and I will quote "7 houses in the last two weeks and got $80 per house. He told me that he felt like he had washed all of Cobleskill (small village about 40 miles from where we both live). I asked him how long it took and he said with travel he could do one a day and be home by 2:30 or 3:00. I didn't have the heart to tell Ralph I had just finished a funeral home and crematory and made 575.00 by noon. I guess you could call him competition but I have been called to clean a property that he couldn't get clean. Ralph is more of a neusance than a competitor. He will not be in business long. He has no insurance, he cant get a commercial job (they all require cert of ins.) here, And yes,,, He is a low baller... I will clean a property free for the PR (ie our American Legion) before I low ball a job. That is not a definent,, The reality is I have to stay in business. My nursing job will cover my living expenses but it wont cover my business expenses. I still think I would find it difficult to fire up the pressure washer for an 80 dollar house wash.

I am a Registered Nurse in an Intensive Care Unit. I started out in late 2003 and just finished up my first full season. I made more $$$ while I was Pressure Washing than while I was working as a Nurse this season. My advise to you is listen to the people on these BBS... They will save you money avoiding mistakes and make you money with thier marketing and skills advise. It is all about customer service... exceeding customer expectations. I expect that someday I will leave nursing to do this full time. Right now I have a pretty cushy Nursing job.

Mid August of 2003 We had just finished getting our house sided. We bought a pressure washer at Tractor Supply Company. My son and I were washing down the driveway and he said "Dad, I bet people would pay for pressure washing." Until then, I didn't even know that commercial pressure washing exhisted. I asked around at work and two coworkers aked for prices on thier houses. The rest was history. We did a bit of scattered work last year, then this spring my phone started ringing... Things I would Do Differently... The list is endless. #1 - Research, Research and Research. I bought useless / lousey equipment to start, made some technical mistakes, Did OK with marketing after I started reading these boards. The main component of my success this year was the unselfish and for the most part excellent advise I recieved of off the BBS, PWNA, TGS, *** and CN. The PWNA was an excellent resource, Everette, Henry, Beth, Rod and others. Thier advise helped to the point I could give back a little (PWNA Membership Dues) to the industry to promote a higher standard. I would rather Pressure Wash a House than work as an RN... And I love my nursing job.